West's advice helps Davis on, off court

Golden State Warriors Baron Davis reacts after the Warriors scored a basket against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 28, 2007 in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/George Nikitin) EFE OUT less

Golden State Warriors Baron Davis reacts after the Warriors scored a basket against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 28, 2007 in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/George ... more

Photo: George Nikitin

Photo: George Nikitin

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Golden State Warriors Baron Davis reacts after the Warriors scored a basket against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 28, 2007 in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/George Nikitin) EFE OUT less

Golden State Warriors Baron Davis reacts after the Warriors scored a basket against the Denver Nuggets in the first half of an NBA basketball game, Friday, Dec. 28, 2007 in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/George ... more

Photo: George Nikitin

West's advice helps Davis on, off court

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Baron Davis carries himself with the regal and assured bearing of a baron, but one day last summer, he was taken out of his game.

Davis was leaving a rehab clinic in Los Angeles when he spotted Jerry West on the sidewalk. West also was leaving the clinic, where he was rehabbing from a shoulder injury.

Davis was star-stuck. The NBA logo is a silhouette of Jerry West dribbling. West was chosen as the logo more or less by chance, but many NBA people see the logo as artistic validation of West's aura. West is commonly referred to as The Logo, or simply Logo.

West's playing credentials are mythical. As an executive, his skills were considered magical. Davis had seen West play many times, on ESPN Classic, and West had seen Davis play at UCLA, but they hadn't met.

"I was nervous," Davis said. "I was real nervous. There he is, here's an opportunity to finally have a conversation with the man."

Davis introduced himself and told West how much he admired his game and everything he has accomplished in basketball. West smiled, but cringed.

West was the ultimate spotlight player, "Mr. Clutch," but he shuns the spotlight and is uncomfortable with flattery. The first bit of advice he gave Davis was not to call him "Mr. West."

Davis is 28 and very much the modern superstar. West is 69 and played in the ancient era of tiny pants and tiny paychecks. It was Old School (West retired as a player in '74) meets New School, but they hit it off immediately. And their friendship has had a large impact on the Warriors.

Davis and West talked for half an hour. Over the next few weeks, they talked during their rehab workouts. They talked hoops and life. Davis sought West's advice, and West obliged.

Davis had a chip on his shoulder. He had just gone public with his semi-demand that the Warriors extend his contract, which ends after next season. He said if the Warriors did not do so, he would play out this season and most likely walk away from the final year of the contract. Davis was setting the stage to arrive in camp as an unhappy camper, on a team where chemistry is everything.

Talking to West, Davis talked tough, said he was going to let the Warriors know he was unhappy. Davis expected that West, who had his contract squabbles as a player, would lend a sympathetic ear. He did not.

"That's the wrong approach," West told Davis, quietly.

Davis said, "He gave me a lot of Basketball Business 101. Did it cause a shift in my thinking? Yeah."

West told Davis he would look bad, alienate everyone, ruin his image. He told Davis not to take the contract situation personally. He told Davis, "The most important thing is that you're in a good place, playing for a coach who lets you play your game, uninhibited. You're in a perfect position with the Warriors. Be positive. Just go up there, shut up and play."

West's honesty took Davis by surprise.

"He never told me what I wanted to hear," Davis said. "He always told me what was right. It was a satisfying feeling to not hear somebody sugarcoat something. ... Sometimes when you're (famous), or you're the star player on a team, a lot of people don't want to put a dent in your ego. ... Constructive criticism for me is a must and a need. That's why I think I have been able to play so well under coach Nellie, because he's like that.

"Mr. West in the summer, it was just incredible, because not only did he tell me what was right, he gave me pointers on how to be a better leader, how to be a better player, everything from making moves to just talking about the game."

The artist who designed the logo picked the right model. West has basketball in his marrow. He's friendly with a lot of players and he's very close with a few, including Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal.

"I love players," said West, who retired last year as president of the Memphis Grizzlies, "particularly players who I think play the game at a high level.

"If you play the game just because you want to get paid, I'm not much of a fan, OK? Baron does (play at a high competitive level), and he's had some spectacular games, and late in games, he's been a real force for them. He's been playing the game at a really high level, and he's the driving force for them to win, the catalyst."

West tried to impress on Davis that he was part of something special, that many NBA teams are essentially failed experiments in chemistry, and that it's rare to see a team like the Warriors.

"The Warriors are really fun to watch play," West said. "Really fun. And they play so damn hard that it's a joke."

Had Davis hit camp whining and pouting about his contract, the team magic would have faded. But Davis listened to West, and got it.

"He's The Logo," Davis said. "There's a reason he's the NBA sign. ... For me, it was an amazing experience, to be a young guy and to be around Jerry West twice a week and be able to talk to him. I seized that opportunity because I knew it would benefit me, I could gain enough knowledge that maybe I could pass it down to some of the younger guys on my team."

Davis, thinking about his chance meeting with West, said, "I hit the lotto. He's got a great personality, great energy, great love for the game, great love for people. He's the type of role model you want to be. And hey, he's had an impact on this league that every player wants to have. To follow in his footsteps, I know I have to be on my Ps and Qs."

Davis reported to camp in a determinedly upbeat, positive frame of mind. He has been playing great ball. He's the team leader. The Warriors are winning.